Wheatley, girlfriend charged with assault

Police arrested State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, and girlfriend Angela Mike on charges of simple assault following an argument over their son’s childcare expenses at Wheatley’s Iowa Street home May 4.

District Judge Oscar Petite arraigned them and released both without bond. They left together with Wheatley’s attorney Blaine Jones. Mike had no comment for reporters. Wheatley apologized for having “let a lot of people down.”

According to police, Mike said Wheatley threw water on her face, grabbed her arms and pushed her to the ground. When she attempted to get up, she said Wheatley again pushed her to the floor, where she scraped her left hand. He then left in his car, and she called police.

Wheatley, who returned home while the police were there, said he was trying to fend her off when she slipped and fell to the kitchen floor. She jabbed at him with a set of keys, cutting him slightly on the leg. He told police he left to avoid more fighting.